Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sanghee's Cat and Dog Quilt


Sanghee came to stay with us in November and was a wonderful support during all the trauma of that month. I forgot to post this lovely picture of her with the quilt she made in a day and a half. She was keen to learn how to quilt and had bought two fat quarters at an agricultural show we went to so when we got home a frenzy of quilting started.

Well done Sanghee!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

October Quilting Weekend


It was all go last weekend for our final quilting sleepover for 2008. We now have Evelyn's Bees quilt ready for donation (except the label that I need to print). This one has batting and backing rather than our usual polartec backing. We learned about tacking the layers together (rather than pinning) ready for quilting - much easier to manage under the machine.
We progressed well on the final two mystery metre quilts for the year. Leonie's Flowers are now a complete quilt top. We experimented with including a "peeper" in the binding and it looks great.Helen's Stars blocks have been put together with sashing and the border is now in progress. The colours in this one have been amazing to match and draw together.
Over the summer break we will continue with the Brown Sampler quilt so wait patiently and you'll receive your block kit in due course.

We had fun photographing two finished quilts on our new "quilt photography frame" AKA our new carport with curtain rod. It works really well although the photographer needs an assistant to hold the umbrella to keep the sun off the lens.



































In 2009 we will start by finishing up Leonie's Flowers and Helen's Stars. We even have two Mystery Metre lucky dip parcels left.

So, if you need a quilt photographed or if you would like help with layering and tacking your quilt, bring it along to a quilting weekend. I'm also happy to provide the table, carport and fingers between our weekends so just let me know.Leonie made us all a Christmas surprise - gingerbread ladies and men. Thanks Leonie.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

August Quilting Weekend


At our August weekend we finished binding Betty's Basket quilt and it is now ready to send to our charity.
We spent time putting together our blocks for Leonie's Flowers quilt but made progress on our others as well. We now have four works in progress: Evelyn's Bees, Leonie's Flowers, Helen's Star and our Brown Sampler.

One fun activity was sorting and selecting fabrics donated by Elizabeth to use in our Brown Sampler quilt. There were so many decisions and choices to be made.

Cutting and sewing the sashing for Evelyn's Bees meant it was ready to back so Robyn showed us how to layer with batting and backing and basting it all together ready for quilting. She then started the process. Machine quilting is definitely a one-person task.

Leonie's Flowers was the quilt on the design wall so the shopping trip was to buy backing and sashing fabrics to finish this one.

Our final lucky dip for the next Mystery Metre Quilt was Helen's Star patch and fabric. On Sunday Leonie, Jane and Betty were able to complete our blocks and type out the instructions to send out to everyone.

The Brown Sampler quilt is now in Leonie's hands to complete her block.

Our group seems to have settled into a great pattern so that on each quilting weekend anyone can be involved in all steps of quiltmaking from choosing fabrics and block design through to finally binding and labelling the finished quilt.

Our last weekend for 2008 is 18-19 October when we'll finish off as much as we can and organise dates for 2009.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Round Robin Sampler Quilt

Instructions will be coming soon for this quilt idea. But to understand the instructions you will need these pictures:

Bungonia Quilt
The two pre-printed sampler blocks found in Elaine's stash boxAs I receive your blocks I will photograph them and add them below.

Betty's star block.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

June Quilting Weekend

We had six busy workers this weekend - Leonie, Evelyn, Patricia, Robyn, Elaine and Betty. Helen and Marion had sent their completed blocks back as well so they were with us virtually.
Our first task was to finish our Betty's Basket quilt. We've now quilted it and added the binding but need to hand finish the binding next time, label it and tie of the loose ends.
Our next task was to arrange all the blocks from Evelyn's Bee Quilt. There was much discussion and negotiation but we ended up with an arrangement that should work well. This of course meant a shopping trip to Spotlight where we found sashing, binding, backing and wadding to suit.

Then our next lucky dip revealed Leonie's flower fabric and block so Leonie was able to complete her two blocks because of course she already had matching fabrics.

Don't forget to add the next date to your diary for 23-24 August. See you all then.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

More books about quilting

The Quiltmaker's Gift is a great kid's story with a quilting pattern book to go with it. Great story, great quilt patterns.

Another great book is Hidden in Plain View - a history of quilting in the USA. A critique from another perspective is give at Antique Quilt Dating.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Elm Creek Quilt Novels

I was given the first three of these novels for my birthday by Ellen and they are great. Find out more at Elm Creek Quilts.

News from Jane, UK

I used the pattern for your last quilters weekend to make a cot quilt for a friend of Kate's. I did all the small pictures (60 in all!) of animals and novelty fabrics which was fun. I put some Australian fabrics as the Mum & Dad had just returned from travelling there. I will have to do a few more as it was fun to do. I am trying to finish a wall-hanging I started a while ago. I have 2 years to get some new pieces for our next quilt show I am determined to make a better show of myself.

News from Marion in Mass, USA

The charity quilt I was working on is finished. It is the first quilt I have tied, using embroidery thread (all six strands), and tied with a square knot. I was browsing in one of my quilt books, and realized that the name of this pattern is "Rail Fence", which takes on a completely different look with so many fabrics used. (I have made a rail fence quilt with only three colors, and wider strips, than the 2 and a half inches in these blocks.) We don't know how many quilts will be made by our group yet, because we have until September to complete them. This one is a small one. I had extra blocks, so this has 6 blocks across and 8 down. Each block was 6 and a half inches.

Friday, April 25, 2008

April Quilting Weekend

Our April patchwork weekend saw the completion of two projects and the near completion of our next charity quilt. First up there were the Chook Scraps. These little chooks were inspired by one Betty purchased in Murrurundi, NSW. We worked out the pattern and used up lots of tiny scraps (hence the name) to make a whole brood.
Then we completed the remaining blocks for our next charity quilt. This photo was Saturday but on Sunday we went shopping for border fabric and then completed the sewing together of the blocks and the addition of borders. We'll finish this one in June. It is amazing how well the blocks fit together when the rule of using only the colours in the focus fabric is followed.
Last but not least here is a photo of our now completed Indian Trail charity quilt. Just the label to print and attach and then we can send it off. This one will go to the ABC Wrapped with Love program. Evelyn did a lot of the hand sewing of the binding but a few of us helped by taking turns around the table as we chatted and followed the activities of others as they made new blocks or chooks.

Our next gathering is in June so start your blocks now and note it in your diary.
Special thanks to Surrey for keeping us all well fed during the weekend. We really did miss our kitchen hand Mary though.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Our first quilt has an owner


Our first Rainbow Connection Quilt (hence the name of our group) has been chosen by a 4 year old boy whose six year old sister has cancer. This was through the 'Quilts for Keeps' program in NSW.

February Patchwork Weekend


Again a wonderful weekend. This time we almost completed our first Mystery Metre Quilt thanks to all those who completed a block or more and helped put it together. Our travellers this time were Mary (Utah) and her sister Helen (Queensland).


We even had a great chef and assistant together with lots of food supplied by others. Much fun was had around the table eating.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Mary's Grass Quilt

My latest patchwork project has been a quilt (hanging) and cushion
for Mary B from Utah. These are grasses she works on.

Our Youngest Quilter

Alex spent the day helping Leonie and Ma do patchwork.